Turf Talk: Top prospect Elwazir tipped to make another major step forward at Newmarket

There are some nice prospects on show at Newmarket on Wednesday, but the best of them all could be Elwazir in the 32Red.com Novice Stakes.

Beautifully bred, he made a very pleasing debut at Headquarters a month ago and looks sure to take a step forward.

While Owen Burrows can have first-time-out winners, the majority improve for the run and that bodes well for the son of Frankel who is out of Dash To The Top, which makes him a half-brother to Group One winner Speedy Boarding.

Not cheap at 500,000 guineas, he at least showed on debut that he possessed an engine when finishing second to Henry Candy’s smart prospect Thrave.

Behind Elwazir in third was Aidan O’Brien’s Coat Of Arms, who had earlier finished second in the Futurity Stakes and fourth in the Group One National Stakes.

That give some real substance to the form and Burrows will be disappointed if this Derby entry fails to go one better.

It is no surprise to see Hugo Palmer step up in trip with Left Alone in the second division of the Rewards4Racing Fillies’ Novice Median Auction Stakes.

Third on her debut over six furlongs at Yarmouth, in which she was doing her best work close home, she ran a similar race last time out, powering through the line to claim second at Kempton.

That was also over six, behind a nice one of John Gosden’s, but she will surely be suited by the extra furlong this time.

In the first division, Palmer’s High Seas is also worth noting given she reared on leaving the stalls last time out, which meant she did well to eventually finish fourth. Harry Dunlop was thrilled with the debut effort of Knight To Behold in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark at Newbury and will be disappointed should he fail to build on it in the British EBF Racing UK Novice Stakes.

Beaten a nose by Palmer’s White Mocha, who had the benefit of experience, he failed by the narrowest of margins to get the verdict.

While this race has attracted, on paper at least, some very nice individuals, Knight To Behold should be wiser for his first effort.

Another trainer who rarely has his newcomers fit to burst first time out is Luca Cumani, so the debut of his Coolongolook was all the more meritorious.

He reappears in the first division of the 32Red/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton having finished third behind Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Just Brilliant.

Scotchtown makes his chasing debut in the Richard Davis Memorial Chase at Worcester and he looks like being a smart novice.

He made giant strides over hurdles last season but might need softer ground to be seen at his absolute best.

Charlie Longsdon’s Forth Bridge will know more than he did on his debut over fences in the Call Star Sports On 08000 521321 Beginners’ Chase at Sedgefield.